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On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: losing track of time reading and bookish vanity plates Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: books we think would make great book club picks The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . . 1:19 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 2:29 - Snap by Belinda Bauer 6:34 - Our Current Reads 6:48 - The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig (Meredith) 10:13 - Wanderers by Chuck Wendig 10:33 - It by Stephen King 11:59 - The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko (Kaytee) 12:03 - Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko 14:24 - Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones 15:13 - Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko 16:06 - How to Be A Saint by Kate Sidley (Meredith) 21:45 - Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery (Kaytee) 21:53 - The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery 26:46 - The Black Wolf by Louise Penny (Meredith) 27:01 - The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny 32:54 - State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton 34:20 - The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman (Kaytee) 34:27 - The King's English Bookshop 36:49 - The Magicians by Lev Grossman 38:36 - Our Book Club Recs 39:22 - Currently Reading Patreon 40:34 - The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig 44:27 - Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 44:38 - Curfew by Jayne Cowie 46:04 - Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge 48:11 - The Push by Ashley Audrain 49:19 - The Art Thief by Michael Finkel 50:15 - One of the Boys by Jayne Cowie 51:24 - Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 51:25 - Washington Black by Esi Edugyan 51:27 - The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali 51:45 - Chain-Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 52:06 - CR Season 6: Episode 2 52:42 - Check our our instagram @currentlyreadingpodcast for our book club post! 52:54 - Meet Us At The Fountain 53:02 - I wish that if you don't already follow us on Instagram, to do so now. (Meredith) 53:07 - @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram 53:35 - I wish to reformat my bookish hard drive (Kaytee) 51:34 - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang 51:37 - A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 51:38 - Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. November's's IPL is brought to us from Content Bookstore in Northfield, Minnesota. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business. All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!
Melissa and James discuss R. F. Kuang's Katabasis through themes of power, motivation, and the hell that is academia.Join us next month for Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan.
On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: a poem a day + excitement over release days Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: we discuss your top books from 2019-2024 and draw the giveaway winner The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . . 1:59 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 2:07 - The Poetry Foundation's Poem of the Day 2:27 - A Rebellion of Care by David Gate 3:55 - The Black Wolf by Louise Penny 4:34 - The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny 6:02 - Our Current Reads 6:08 - The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong (Kaytee) 8:21- A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers 9:03 - The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman (Meredith) 10:11 - Words Matter Bookshop 10:40 - The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman 14:17 - The Bookshop by Evan Friss (Kaytee) 15:12 - Parnassus Books 17:29 - Exile in Bookville 17:58 - Books - A Manifesto: Or, How to Build A Library by Ian Patterson (Meredith, Goldsboro link) 20:16 - Goldsboro Books UK 24:16 - The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler 26:03 - I Leave It Up To You by Jinwoo Chong (Kaytee) 29:05 - Flux by Jinwoo Chong (amazon link) 29:34 - The Wasp Trap by Michael Edwards (Meredith) 32:45 - The Guest List by Lucy Foley 33:09 - Listeners' Top Ranked Books 35:11 - Giveaway Post to see other listeners' best books! (reminder - giveaway is CLOSED) 42:17 - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 42:32 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 42:43 - The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green 42:56 - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry 43:06 - Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 43:07 - Still Life by Louise Penny 43:59 - Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon 44:03 - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 44:08 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 44:16 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 44:18 - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Giveaway Winner Christie's Reads 47:25 - Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen 47:27 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 47:30 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 47:33 - Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 47:35 - The Anxious Generation by Johnathan Haidt 47:39 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 48:17 - Meet Us At The Fountain 48:22 - I wish to tell you about the gold star item I found for reading and sleep. (Kaytee) 48:32 - Stolen Focus by Johann Hari 48:47 - Bloom 51:30 - I wish for you to try more specific ASMR rooms or listening to playlists for books. (Meredith) 51:34 - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang 51:37 - A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 51:38 - Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. November's's IPL is brought to us from Content Bookstore in Northfield, Minnesota. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business. All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!
Welcome to Season 5, Episode 45! Today's episodes takes us back in history to the first "great war." We're focused on the forgotten participants in World War I… This is the story of the Chinese Labour Corps. During World War I, over 140,000 Chinese men crossed oceans to support the Allies. Their story is often forgotten and kind of ended in betrayal. China hoped to earn respect and reclaim lost territory, especially Shandong Province. But in the end, the Allies broke their promises, reinforcing racial stereotypes and leaving China humiliated. In our opening segment we celebrate the recent political wins by API in the November elections including Zohran Mamdani and Michelle Wu. We also celebrate the Dodgers 2nd World Series win. In our recurring segment, we bring back another segment of What Are We Reading to talk about The Strength of Water by Karin K. Jensen and Katabasis by R.F. Kuang. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com. Segments 00:25 Intro: Celebrating the Dodgers and the Big API Wins in the November Elections 05:15 The History of the Chinese Labour Corps in WWI 17:17 What Are We Reading: The Strength of Water by Karin K. Jensen and by Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
On this episode, Jen Price, of Travel Books and Movies, discusses her life that involves a great deal of travel, how she incorporates reading into travelling, and her book club that has a brilliant idea about how to choose books. We also get into some of the shared perils of being feral readers. Travel Books and Movies Blog Jen on Instagram Travel Books and Movies Facebook Group Reading Retreat Guide/Newsletter Bon Voyage Book Box Books mentioned in this episode: What Betsy's reading: Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Pan by Michael Clune Books Highlighted by Jen: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides Travels of Terror by Kelly Florence and Meg Hafdahl A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley All books available on my Bookshop.org episode page. Other books mentioned in this episode: Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg The Girl from Donegal by Carmel Harrington A Journey to the New World (Dear America) by Kathryn Lasky The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman
spoiler free review of RF Kuang's new book ! written version on our website here cya next time !!!!!!
Writer R.F. Kuang has quickly become one of today's most daring and original voices in fiction, blending sharp social critique with rich storytelling. Her most recent novel, Katabasis, takes readers on a darkly witty descent into the underworld, where academia, ambition, and myth collide. Known for tackling power, politics, and the human cost of ambition, Kuang first captivated audiences with The Poppy War and later with the wildly successful Babel, both of which showcased her ability to fuse historical depth with page-turning drama. As part of the 30th anniversary of the Writer's Symposium by the Sea, Kuang joins host Dean Nelson for a delightful conversation at Point Loma Nazarene University. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40781]
Writer R.F. Kuang has quickly become one of today's most daring and original voices in fiction, blending sharp social critique with rich storytelling. Her most recent novel, Katabasis, takes readers on a darkly witty descent into the underworld, where academia, ambition, and myth collide. Known for tackling power, politics, and the human cost of ambition, Kuang first captivated audiences with The Poppy War and later with the wildly successful Babel, both of which showcased her ability to fuse historical depth with page-turning drama. As part of the 30th anniversary of the Writer's Symposium by the Sea, Kuang joins host Dean Nelson for a delightful conversation at Point Loma Nazarene University. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40781]
Writer R.F. Kuang has quickly become one of today's most daring and original voices in fiction, blending sharp social critique with rich storytelling. Her most recent novel, Katabasis, takes readers on a darkly witty descent into the underworld, where academia, ambition, and myth collide. Known for tackling power, politics, and the human cost of ambition, Kuang first captivated audiences with The Poppy War and later with the wildly successful Babel, both of which showcased her ability to fuse historical depth with page-turning drama. As part of the 30th anniversary of the Writer's Symposium by the Sea, Kuang joins host Dean Nelson for a delightful conversation at Point Loma Nazarene University. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40781]
Writer R.F. Kuang has quickly become one of today's most daring and original voices in fiction, blending sharp social critique with rich storytelling. Her most recent novel, Katabasis, takes readers on a darkly witty descent into the underworld, where academia, ambition, and myth collide. Known for tackling power, politics, and the human cost of ambition, Kuang first captivated audiences with The Poppy War and later with the wildly successful Babel, both of which showcased her ability to fuse historical depth with page-turning drama. As part of the 30th anniversary of the Writer's Symposium by the Sea, Kuang joins host Dean Nelson for a delightful conversation at Point Loma Nazarene University. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40781]
What happens when you stop analyzing the eighth house and start walking into it? We invite you into a guided descent—part myth, part meditation—through sex, death, shared resources, and the hidden currents that shape intimacy and power. Recorded close to midnight, this journey leans on feeling more than theory, letting the night world rewrite how we meet fear, trust, and desire.We unpack the anxiety around “empty houses” by showing why no house is truly empty and how the cusp and its ruler speak volumes. From there, we cross the threshold with stories: Persephone pulled below, Inanna choosing the descent, Hercules learning that force fails underground, and Orpheus softening the gates with song. Each myth becomes a method for real life—how to let go, how to be guided, how to bring music to heavy doors. Along the way we visit the Necromanteion, an ancient temple of the dead, and reflect on ancestor contact as a form of practical divination.This house is where intimacy strips our persona, where shared finances and entanglements test honesty, and where the body's quiet signals tell the truth before our minds can. We explore Reich and Freud on eros and death to ask whether life force is fighting an enemy or simply frees itself when we stop blocking it. Paradoxically, by facing mortality we recover appetite—a warm, steady desire to be here now. And when we come back up, the ninth house opens with clearer meaning because we earned our perspective below.If you're ready to feel into the eighth—beyond clichés and fear—press play, bring a journal, and let a slower rhythm lead. If the journey moved you, subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share this episode with someone who's navigating their own underworld. Your support helps keep the show ad-free and the work alive.*This episode blurb was created by Buzzsprout's AIEpisode artwork is from Arnold Böcklin - Die Toteninsel III (Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin).Join the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.
It's here! The brand-new podcast, "Four Books a Fortnight," where we, Hannah Harlow and Sam Pfeifle, co-owners of the Book Shop of Beverly Farms, read four books every two weeks and tell you all about them. Then we rate them with a sound effect! This fortnight, we read: "Katabasis," by RF Kuang "Wreck," by Catherine Newman "The Uncool," by Cameron Crowe "Remain," by Nicholas Sparks and M Night Shyamalan What sound effects did we give these books? You'll just have to listen and find out!
On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: audiobook samples and author shoutouts Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: books we've recently set aside and why The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . . 1:26 - Ad For Ourselves 4:27 - Currently Reading Patreon 4:40 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 6:09 - The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell 9:50 - Our Current Reads 10:22 - Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins (Meredith) 13:50 - Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent 13:54 - 17 Years Later by J.P. Pomare 14:36 - Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy (Kaytee) 14:45 - Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy 14:51 - Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy 18:04 - What the Deep Water Knows by Miranda Cowley Heller (Meredith) 18:54 - The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller 23:07 - Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle (Kaytee) 23:26 - Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle 26:15 - Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle 26:54 - The Girl Who Reads on the Metro by Christine Feret-Fleury (Meredith, amazon link) 30:37 - The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George 31:52 - Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell (Kaytee) 32:13 - Waterstones 32:14 - Blackwell's 34:16 - The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell 38:20 - Books We Recently DNF'd 40:47 - Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (Meredith NRN) 43:30 - All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman (Kaytee DNF) 45:16 - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (Meredith DNF with prejudice) 47:47 - Babel by R.F. Kuang 48:11 - Yellowface by R.F. Kuang 49:50 - We Are the Light by Matthew Quick (Kaytee DNF with prejudice) 51:58 - The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick 52:30 - The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (Meredith - not sure!) 53:42 - The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow 53:49 - A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow 55:01 - Fire by John Boyne (Kaytee DNF) 55:14 - Water by John Boyne 55:15 - Earth by John Boyne 55:16 - Air by John Boyne 55:18 - The Elements by John Boyne (all 4 novellas combined) 55:27 - Blackwell's 56:45 - The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne 57:46 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live - The Elements by John Boyne discussion (only for patreon subscribers) 58:34 - Meet Us At The Fountain 59:14 - I wish for author Cameos. (Meredith) 59:17 - Cameo 1:01:17 - I wish for a reading merit badge. (Kaytee) Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. November's's IPL is brought to us from Content Bookstore in Northfield, Minnesota. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business. All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!
On this episode, Taylor Thornburg, multi-media creator and fan talks about how to plug in to the local literary scene, his connection to physical media, and how he loves authors that are just entirely out of the box. We also talk about a lot of the great benefits of the Chicago reading life. Agathe, 6:00 p.m. to 7:27 Books mentioned in this episode: What Betsy's reading: Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Flashlight by Susan Choi Books Highlighted by Taylor: Ubik by Philip K. Dick In Praise of the Stepmother by Mario Vargas Llosa White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link Lapovona by Ottessa Moshfegh My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov All books available on my Bookshop.org episode page. Other books mentioned in this episode: Herscht 07769 by Lázló Krasznahorkai Schattenfroh by Michael Lentz The Instructions by Adam Levin The Möbius Book by Catherine Lacey Bluets by Maggie Nelson The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Frindle by Andrew Clements Severance by Ling Ma Bliss Montage by Ling Ma Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon All Fours by Miranda July My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah North Woods by Daniel Mason
Happy Halloween!! This episode, we join Alice and Peter, two PhD Students in Magick studies, as they journey to hell to save their advisor in R.F. Kuang's new fantasy novel Katabasis. We start off spoiler free in this first of three episodes with our initial reactions, thoughts on pretentiousness in relation to academic prestige and precarity, and who we ultimately think this book is for.As a bit of a content warning, Katabasis deals with abuse and suicidal ideation. Because these themes are pretty central to the novel, we won't be able to provide specific timecodes for when it comes up in our own discussion, but wanted to make sure you know going in. What's Sparking Joy this episode: Silent Hill f and Love in the CloudEpisode was recorded October 19, 2025Show Notes:Support us on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcastListen to Corinne on Afternoona Asks: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/till-the-end-of-the-moon-deep-dive/id1698849342?i=1000729479718A little about the concerns around Lewis Carroll: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/articles/understanding-concerns-about-lewis-carroll/Listen to our Joy Sparked: SLL Song Recs playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50MNBI1kYKdJgxh8CzEJF1?si=d9df62854c684557Listen to our episode on Hadestown: https://www.sexlovelitpodcast.com/ep40-hadestown/https://www.sexlovelitpodcast.com/ep40-hadestown/Other lit mentioned this episode: His Dark Materials, Hadestown, The Wasteland by T S Elliot, Dante's Inferno, Alice in Wonderland, The Stormlight Archive, Witch Hat Atelier, A Discovery of WitchesOn Future SLL Episodes: Isekai and Transmigration, Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity, Frieren: Beyond Journey's EndDon't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us at SexLoveLitPodcast.com; on Instagram , Tumblr, and BlueSky @SexLoveLitPodcast. Support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/sexlovelitpodcastOur cover art is by Charcooll (https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What's Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr;Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US.Sex. Love. Literature. is a pop culture podcast that relishes the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in media. Join pop culture scholars (and besties) Ayanni and Corinne as they deep dive into why the “sex-stuff” in media matters. Main episodes drop the last Friday of the month.
Episode 176 October 28, 2025 On the Needles 3:54 ALL KNITTING LINKS GO TO RAVELRY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Please visit our Instagram page @craftcookreadrepeat for non-Rav photos and info Succulents 2025 Blanket CAL by Mallory Krall, Hue Loco DK in Hoya SSAL Delectable Collectible Socks by Stephen West, Dark Omen Yarns Sock in Electric Minis (navy, royal, light blue with speckles, cream with speckles, cream)- DONE!! 2nd sock for PSP Pop Rock Pullover by Tanis Lavallee, La Bien Aimée singles and Mohair Silk in AVFKW A Day by the Bay Spooky Season socks: Cuff Club Vol. 2 by Summer Lee, Vanilla is the New Black by Anneh Fletcher, Gauge Dyeworks 4 ply sock in Pumpkin Stripe Latte– DONE!! 3D printed spinning wheel–source TBA On the Easel 14:08/16:06 Courtney Cerruti's new CB class–Find your Creative Rhythm: 15 Ways to Spark & Sustain Creativity 2026 Calendar–coming soon (!!!) Gouachevemeber 2025 Uh Italy? Borghese Gallery Museo Nazionale Romano Smithsonian–Little Beasts exhibit (currently closed due to govt shut down) MFAHouston–Impressionist & post-Impressionist wing, plus excellent Islamic & Judaic art collections On the Table 30:13 Uh Italy? Pasticceria Regoli Cooking and Eating in Lazio: https://www.cooking-vacations.com/ https://www.nenaborgocastello.com/ Naples Food Tour: https://www.eatingeurope.com/naples/ Cranberry & White Chocolate Biscotti On the Nightstand 44:40 We are now a Bookshop.org affiliate! You can visit our shop to find books we've talked about or click on the links below. The books are supplied by local independent bookstores and a percentage goes to us at no cost to you! Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga Murder at the Black Cat Cafe by Seishi Yokomizo, trans by Bryan Karetnyk The Lost Masterpiece by B. A. Shapiro The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland Liar's Knot by M. A. Carrick (audio) Katabasis by R. F. Kuang Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn City of Night Birds by Juhea Kim
Join us for what promises to be an unmissable evening with bestselling author R.F. Kuang, as we celebrate the publication of her much-anticipated new novel, Katabasis.The internationally bestselling author of Babel and Yellowface returns with Katabasis: a sublimely dark and unputdownable tale of two rival Cambridge academics who must join forces on a rescue mission in hell itself.R.F. Kuang is now the author of six novels, with her debut novel The Poppy War written on her gap year in China and released in 2018. This was followed by The Dragon Republic (2019), The Burning God (2022), Babel (2022) and most recently Yellowface (2023).
Ever felt the ground give way beneath your life and, somehow, found renewal waiting in the dark? We go there with astrologer Melanie Reinhart as we explore the Eighth House—where loss, endings, and the mysteries of descent turn into a deeper kind of aliveness.We begin with a radical reframing of “death” as the series of mini-deaths that define a lifetime: the mask that falls away, the role that ends, the image we can no longer carry. Melanie brings in Asclepian dream rites to show how healing arrives when we stop managing and start listening. Dreams don't just offer messages; sometimes the dream is the medicine. From Persephone and Inanna to Hermes the psychopomp, myth becomes a living map for honoring thresholds, accepting uncertainty, and noticing the signs that mark true initiation.Intimacy takes center stage as a gateway into the Eighth House. Not all sex is eighth-house, and not all eighth-house intimacy is sexual—what matters is transformation through real energetic exchange. We contrast this with polite arrangements that function but never descend. Along the way, we tackle death denial through the story of Sisyphus: chain up death and you lose meaning. Accept the descent and something winged rises—Pegasus from Medusa's body—foreshadowing the Ninth House's authentic meaning-making that cannot be faked or fast-tracked.This is a guide for moving from the illusion of separateness toward the radiance of love. It's practical, too: don't dig aggressively for shadows; let the underworld emerge. Create sacred space, honor fatigue, keep a journal, and treat dreams as sacred visitors. If you're navigating grief, midlife, or a season of deep change, this conversation offers language, myth, and gentle practices to help you walk on the soul's terms.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who's in transition, and leave a review to help others find these conversations. What threshold are you standing at today?* Blurb generated by Buzzsprout's AICover artwork: John William Waterhouse - The DanaidesJoin the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.
You know what they say: Hell is going to grad school. Or that's what R. F. Kuang says, and we here at Book Squad Goals tend to agree with her assessment. This week, the squad dives into Kuang's latest, Katabasis, discussing everything from the state of Booktok and the publishing landscape to whether or not an erection qualifies a book for Romantasy status. Feel free to weigh in by sending an email to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com. You can also check out our blog for at least one NEW POST (gasp) at booksquadgoals.com/blog. Stay tuned for our next episode on 11/11 where we'll be revisiting the film Midsommar along with Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, author of The Mean Ones. You should also read along for our next bookpisode on Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang, where we'll be joined by Sam, owner/founder of Seattle Book Club, on 11/25. Finally, please consider subscribing to our Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/booksquadgoals, for just $3 a month! Please!!!!TOC:0:30– Welcome! And icebreaker14:05–Magic as metaphor18:20–Is this book too academic?35:04–Alice and women in academia1:00:00–Pacing and what could go1:16:19–Anything else? Ratings?1:20:02–What's on the blog? What's up next?
Benvenuti su Bookatini 2.0 - il podcast per chi è ghiotto di libri.L'ospite di questa puntata è Elisabetta, che trovate alla pagina Instagram @olodramma e @reader_interrupted e su TikTok sempre come @olodramma, insieme torniamo al format Legenda - libri da leggere prima di subito, in cui elenchiamo quali saranno probabilmente le nostre prossime letture urgenti.Nell'episodio abbiamo citato i seguenti libri:"Alchemised", SenLinYu, Rizzoli"Gotico Salentino", Martina Pierri, Einaudi Editore"Katabasis", R. F. Kuang, Oscar Fantastica "Malpertuis", Jean Ray, Alcatraz Edizioni"Tutta la vita che resta", Roberta Recchia, Rizzoli"Racconti italiani gotici e fantastici", a cura di Dario Pontuale, BlackDog"I giorni di vetro", Nicoletta Verna, Einaudi Editore"Equinox", Chiara Strazzulla, GainsworthPotete contattarmi, scrivere commenti, suggerimenti, domande e condividre con me le vostre letture su questo tema contattandomi alla pagina Instagram Bookatini_podcast.Se volete sostenermi e godere di contenuti aggiuntivi, potete unirvi a 4 possibili livelli di Patreon che trovate al link: https://www.patreon.com/bookatiniLa sigla di Bookatini è scritta e suonata da Andrea Cerea
"Katabasis" ist Rebecca F. Kuangs jüngster Geniestreich - ein Roman, der nicht nur von Fantasyfans gelesen werden sollte. Von Pia Ciesielski.
In this episode, Tom Rubio, facilitator of the SciFi/Fantasy book club at Village Well, hosts a conversation with two of the club's regulars to discuss last month's pick, Katabasis by R. F. Kuang. Click here to grab a copy:https://villagewell.com/item/MEgaIBq6_d8cx8Dg3TPwTwThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday.If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at podcast@villagewell.com.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!
Things get creepy on the BSG podcast when four unreliable female narrators come together to discuss the Netflix adaptation of The Woman in Cabin 10, based on the thriller by Ruth Ware. This week, Tirzah Price, author of In Want of a Suspect and the upcoming A Matter of Murder, joins the squad aboard our lavish yacht. Tune in as we tackle important questions like: Why is this woman so tired? Why did the movie switch up the story so much? And most importantly, how the heck did Lo Blacklock get herself in this situation yet again in the sequel? If you watch The Woman in Cabin 10, starring Keira Knightly holding an iPhone for the first time in her life, make sure to write in and let us know your thoughts! And tune in next time (Oct 28) as we discuss Katabasis by RF Kuang! And on Nov 11, Tatiana Schlote-Bonne joins us to discuss Midsommar and her novel The Mean Ones! Don't forget to leave us a rating and review, and join our Patreon for exclusive pet pics!TOC1:18 Tirzah is Here!7:50 Intro. Question13:50 Book Vs. Movie Changes28:33 The Cast32:16 The Ending48:05 Is This Movie Good?54:20 The Woman in Suite 11 (light spoilers)1:04:10 Why is the Woman-Preposition-Noun trend so popular?1:14:03 A Matter of Murder by Tirzah Price!1:18:58 What's on the Blog! Wrap-Up Stuff!
Get in losers, we're going to hell. This week Magda and Lindsay descend into R.F. Kuang's journey through the underworld in a discussion all about Katabasis. *Note: This episode contains spoilers for the book. Email us! Literally Books Website Literally Books Instagram Magda's Instagram Lindsay's Instagram Literally Books YouTube Literally Books TikTok Books mentioned in the episode: “Katabasis“ by R.F. Kuang “Automatic Noodle“ by Annalee Newitz “Bunny“ by Mona Awad “We Love You, Bunny“ by Mona Awad “Thank You For Listening“ by Julia Whelan “Yellowface “ by R.F. Kuang “Book Lovers“ by Emily Henry “Beach Read“ by Emily Henry Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread
AudioFile contributor Stephen Cummings is on Behind the Mic this week with host Jo Reed. This week's theme is all about dark academia—suspenseful and often fantastical audiobooks that take place in a campus or school setting. Two graduate students descend into hell to get a recommendation from their professor in KATABASIS by R.F. Kuang, read by Morag Sims and Will Watt; affairs are revealed in a creative writing thesis in SEDUCTION THEORY by Emily Adrian, read by Jennifer Pickens; and a teacher at a magical school needs help wrangling demons in THE INCANDESCENT by Emily Tesh, read by Zara Ramm. Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website: KATABASIS: Published by Harper Audio SEDUCTION THEORY: Published by Hachette Audio THE INCANDESCENT: Published by Macmillan Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile's website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, the publisher of The Intruder by bestselling author Freida McFadden. The Intruder is a deadly tale of survival that explores how far one girl will go to save herself. — on-sale 10/7. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Roxanna are discussing: Bookish Moments: back to buddy reading and book bundles Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: books that surprised you all the way through The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . . . 1:46 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 1:55 - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang 2:19 - Babel by R.F. Kuang 2:41 - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 6:38 - Our Current Reads 9:54 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion Vol.1 by Beth Brower (Roxanna) 9:04 - Libby 9:29 - 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff 14:15 - The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery 14:41 - Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer (Kaytee) 17:19 - Lord of the Flies by William Golding 19:37 - Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (Roxanna) 25:00 - Hollowpox by Jessica Townsend 27:41 - Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong (Kaytee) 31:09 - The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman (Roxanna) 33:05 - Type Books Canada 34:45 - Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune 33:47 - A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers 36:19 - Audre & Bash are Just Friends by Tia Williams (Kaytee) 36:30 - Libro.fm 36:38 - Seven Days in June by Tia Williams 39:24 - The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang 40:52 - Books that Zigged When You Thought They'd Zag 41:45 - The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman 45:03 - Piranesi by Susanna Clark 45:19 - Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki 46:02 - The Unseen World by Liz Moore 46:43 - Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross 46:47 - Fabled Bookshop 48:05 - Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe 49:15 - I Keep My Worries In My Teeth by Anna Cox 49:23 - Commonplace Books 50:51 - Mouth to Mouth by Antoine Wilson 50:53 - Parnassus Books 50:55 - Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill 50:58 - The Novel Neighbor 51:00 - Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots 51:03 - An Unlikely Story 51:07 - Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 51:33 - The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday by Saad Z. Hossain 52:10 - Wicked Nix by Lena Coakley 53:38 - Meet Us At The Fountain 53:45 - I wish to press The Ghoul of Windydown Vale by Jake Burt. (Roxanna) 53:54 - The Ghoul of Windydown Vale by Jake Burt 56:06 - I wish Libby would bring back “Deliver Later”. (Kaytee) Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. October's IPL takes us back to one of our anchor stores, The Novel Neighbor in St. Louis, Missouri. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business. All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!
Dans cet épisode, à l'occasion de la sortie de la sortie de Katabasis en août dernier, nous nous penchons sur le cas de R.F. Kuang afin de tous vous convaincre de lire tous ses livres !!! La chaîne YouTube de Luna : https://www.youtube.com/@lunalitquoiLa chaîne YouTube de Enzo : https://www.youtube.com/@EnzoReadsInstagram : @enzoreads & @lunalitquoi Livres mentionnés : The Poppy war, R.F. KuangBabel, R.F. KuangYellowface, R.F. KuangLes vilaines, Camila Sosa VilladaHistoire d'une domestication, Camila Sosa VilladaKatabasis, R.F. KuangEdinburgh, Alexander CheeL'épopée de GilgameshCursed daughters, Oyinkan BraithwaiteNo home, Yaa GyasiNo home, Yaa GyasiA little life, Hanya YanagiharaTender is the flesh, Agustina BazterricaBlood over bright haven, M. L. WangFrankenstein, Mary ShelleyAu grand jamais, Jakuta AlikavazovicLa petite soeur, Mariana EnriquezNotre part de nuit, Mariana EnriquezLes danger de fumer au lit, Mariana Enriquez
Two PhD students head to hell to bring back their supervisor? This had our name written all over it. In this episode Lauren reviews R.F Kuang's latest novel, Katabasis, discusses what makes dark academia dark, and if hell really is a university campus.
After massive hits like The Poppy War, Babel and Yellowface, R.F. Kuang's new novel takes readers to hell — quite literally. Katabasis follows two grad students who venture through the underworld to save their professor's soul, and R.F. Kuang's own experience as a PhD student, high school debater and talented chef all factor into the book. At a special on-stage event in Toronto, joined by around a thousand of her fans, R.F. told Mattea Roach all about Katabasis … and dove into her own life and inspirations along the way. Liked this conversation? Keep listening:Nalo Hopkinson: How Caribbean folktales inspired her fantastical novel, Blackheart Man Ocean Vuong finds beauty in a fast food shift
Hey there Kindred Spirits, we're back in your feed and ready for a brand new season! On today's episode, we share our favorite summer reads and summer essentials, reflect on the unexpected pleasures of starting a niche Anne of Green Gables podcast, and preview our season to come. Big News! We were featured on our favorite substack, Culture Study so go read our Interview for a behind the scenes look at the pod! What we've read: Kelly has read: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean and Katabasis by R.F. Kuang. Ragon has read: Emily Wilde's Map Of The Otherlands by Heather Fawcett , Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews, An Enchantment of Ravens by Maggie Rogerson and When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson. She also saw Sarah Beth Durst talk about her new book The Enchanted Greenhouse and Sangu Mandana talk about her new book A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping. Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by summer beach days with the Sun Ninja beach shade. Ragon is inspired by the best popsicle ever: Smitten Kitchen's Peach Melba Popsicles. If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram.
Nothing says Hell like graduate school! Katabasis is a dark academia that is probably more literary than fantasy. How well did it work?Next Up: Daughter of the Otherworld by Shauna Lawless Check us out on YouTube:https://youtube.com/c/FantologyPodcastChat with us more and support in the links belowhttps://www.fantologybooks.comhttps://discordapp.com/invite/k5efNbGhttps://www.patreon.com/fantology_bookshttp://www.audibletrial.com/Fantologyhttps://www.redbubble.com/people/fantology/shopMusic Credit: Nathan Towns, see more at https://nathantownscomposer.com/
James and Melissa discuss Taylor Jenkins Reid's Atmosphere through themes of radical acceptance, community versus individuality, and love.Join us next month for Katabasis by R.F. Kuang.
Hell is other people. Academia is hell. Those all sound like enticing reasons to read "Katabasis" by R. F. Kuang. And while they are prevalent themes, there's also Kuang's typical dive into logic and linguistics. So is it worth the ride?
Magda and Lindsay are joined this week by author Anna Binder Reardon to discuss her debut novel, Wethersfield Road. This book is the story of Amelia Glickman, a person who seems, on paper, to live a dream life. However, beneath her shiny surface is a legacy of traumas that has led Amelia to a relationship with addiction. Love addiction. Drug addiction. Alcohol addiction. Food issues. After an accident during a riding competition injures Amelia's horse, she begins to question her current path. The novel follows her evolution from a young woman to a sober adult. Listen in as they discuss the story and interview Anna all about her writing process. You can find out more about Anna and pre-order her book on her website https://www.anna-writes.com, as well as on her Instagram @millenialauthoranna. Email us! Literally Books Website Literally Books Instagram Magda's Instagram Lindsay's Instagram Literally Books YouTube Literally Books TikTok Books mentioned in the episode: “Katabasis“ by R.F. Kuang “The Bell Witches“ by Lindsey Kelk “Charlotte's Web“ by E.B. White “Catcher in the Rye“ by J.D. Salinger “Red, White, and Royal Blue“ by Casey McQuiston “Dry “ by Augusten Burroughs “Alchemised“ by SenLinYu “Shot Ready“ by Steph Curry “The Ending Writes Itself“ by Evelyn Clark “After the End: A Dystopian Romance Collection“ by Various Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread
R.F Kuang's Katabasis has reignited the discourse around journeying into the underworld as a storytelling device. We've covered many stories in the past with the theme of Katabasis (namely Inanna and Persephone), so why not deep dive into the various versions of Orpheus' myth especially with Supergiant Games' Hades II coming out! Join us as we trace Orpheus and Eurydice's story from Pindar to Virgil and Ovid all the way to Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Hadestown as we ask the age old question- why did Orpheus turn? Show notes for this episode can be found on our website at: https://talesfromtheenchantedforest.com/2025/09/24/katabasis-the-myth-of-orpheus/ You can also find us on: Bluesky Mastodon Instagram TikTok
This time we discussed Katabasis, written by R. F. Kuang, and narrated by Morag Sims & Will Watt. Katabasis [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby] Babel [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby] / [Episode 169] Piranesi [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby] Service Model [Libro.fm] / [Overdrive/Libby] / [Episode 257] The Phantom Tollbooth [Libro.fm] / [Overdrive/Libby] / [Episode 53]
On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: movie adaptations and wordy card games Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: answering a listener question about all things pre-orders The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . . . 1:16 - Our Current Reads 1:35 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 6:43 - You Can't Say Umm card game 7:34 - Quiddler game 9:06 - Our Current Reads 9:24 - The Killer Question by Janice Hallett (Meredith) 10:37 - The Appeal by Janice Hallett 10:38 - The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett 10:42 - The Examiner by Janice Hallett 16:45 - The Crescent Monon Tea Room by Stacy Sivinski (Kaytee) 20:34 - The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (Meredith) 22:23 - The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown 26:00 - Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad (Kaytee) 27:14 - When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi 29:39 - Inheritance by Nora Roberts (Meredith) 33:52 - The Search by Nora Roberts 36:43 - Tilt by Emma Pattee (Kaytee) 40:58 - Deep Dive: All Things Pre-Orders 41:47 - @hollyslitmagic on Instagram 43:55 - Fabled Bookshop 47:07 - The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (pre-order, releases Oct 28, 2025) 47:12 - The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (UK edition, pre-order releases Oct 30, 2025) 48:32 - Bergman Brothers full box set is no longer available through Illumicrate 50:21 - Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend 51:22 - Meet Us At The Fountain 52:10 - Sorta Awesome 52:21 - @metaphysicalmeg on Instagram 52:26 - Meg's offerings for readings 53:59 - My wish is that you know yourself as a reader but also your whole self. (Meredith) 55:00 - I wish to encourage the nostalgia reading experience. (Kaytee) 55:09 - The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown 55:59 - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 56:54 - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang 58:33 - Origin by Dan Brown 58:34 - The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown 58:36 - Angels and Demons by Dan Brown Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. September's IPL is brought to us from Words Matter in Pitman, NJ. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business. All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!
We prayed for good TV and The Girlfriend more than delivered! We review Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke's deliciously crazy psychosexual thriller: team Cherry or team Laura? Plus, why millennial women have fallen head over heels for The Summer I Turned Pretty, a look at whether Thailand is as ‘dark' as Zara McDermott's new documentary portrays, and our verdict on divorce comedy The Roses starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch. Also: our thoughts on Yellowface author RF Kuang's new book Katabasis. Enjoy hunnies!Thanks so much to our partner Official London Theatre! Get can up to 50% off theatre tickets with amazing deals on the biggest shows at OfficialLondonTheatre.com.Get 20% off our favourite ready-to-drink cocktails from Whitebox, including the best spicy margs, espresso martinis and negronis, with our code SU20 at Whiteboxcocktails.comWe love hearing from you, DM us @straightuppod, email at hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk and follow us on TikTok @straightuppod too!Recs/reviewsThe Roses, in cinemas nowThailand: the dark side of paradise, BBCThe Girlfriend, Amazon Prime VideoThe Girlfriend: Warning! This sexy oedipal thriller may be too shocking for vanilla viewers, GuardianThe Summer I Turned Pretty, Prime VideoWhy Are Forty-Something Women Obsessed With The Summer I Turned Pretty?, VogueWhy Almost Every Woman You Know Is Obsessed With The Summer I Turned Pretty, ElleIn ‘The Girlfriend,' Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke ‘go feral.' But who's the real villain?, LA TimesKatabasis by RF KuangThe Problem With RF Kuang's Fiction, SlateKatabasis by RF Kuang review – a descent into the hellscape of academia, Guardian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Description (SoundCloud — X2M.229 Katalysis) If X2M.228 Katabasis exposed the rage of the nations, then X2M.229 Katalysis marks the unraveling of their dominion. The cry of Psalm 2 is clear: *“Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us”*¹. Yet in attempting to cast off the cords of Christ's enthronement, nations dissolve their own unity. Katalysis means “dissolution” or “breaking down.” Dominion that once seemed immovable begins to melt. Systems fracture from within; cohesion collapses. Just as molten metal loses its form under heat, so the structures of kosmokratorial rule disintegrate under the scepter of Zion's enthroned King². Runtime logic: This is the second stress-test. Having been exposed in Katabasis, illegitimate thrones now experience internal destabilization. The enthroned vessel does not need to strike every blow directly; the runtime of enthronement itself erodes the integrity of false dominion³. Scriptural logic: Nations that reject the Son discover that their strength was parasitic, borrowed from kosmokrators now cast down. Dominion unravels not because of external invasion but because its foundations are hollow⁴. Katalysis is therefore both judgment and mercy. Judgment, because illegitimate dominion collapses. Mercy, because what dissolves makes room for the reign of the Son. As Paul wrote, “the rulers and authorities were disarmed and made a public spectacle” (Col. 2:15)⁵. Glorification | The Final Frontier Going boldly where the last man has gone before! Decrease time over target: PayPal or Venmo @clastronaut Cash App $clastronaut ⸻ Footnotes ¹ Psalm 2:3. ² Psalm 2:1–4; Revelation 12:8 — cosmic enthronement destabilizes dominion. ³ CR17 runtime logic: systems destabilize internally under pressure. ⁴ Cf. Daniel 2:34–35 — kingdoms dissolve when struck by the stone cut without hands. ⁵ Colossians 2:15 — Christ disarms and dissolves the powers.
On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: a budding book collector + a favorite book wins the Hugo Award Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: reading — why so serious? The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . . . 1:12 - Still Life by Louise Penny (20th Anniversary Edition) [releases September 30] 2:13 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 2:25 - Katabasis by R. F. Kuang 3:34 - The Adventures of Amina al-Sarafi by Shannon Chakraborty 4:19 - The Creeping Hand Murder by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper [releases September 16] 4:53 - The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean 5:04 - The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan 6:19 - The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett 7:54 - Our Current Reads 8:03 - Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca (Kaytee) 11:35 - Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca 13:30 - Rites of Extinction by Matt Serafini (Meredith) 18:39 - The Unveiling by Quan Berry [releases October 14] 19:17 - The Need by Helen Phillips 20:02 - Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy (Kaytee) 22:19 - Dumplin' by Julie Murphy 23:59 - Jobs to Be Done by Stephen Wunker, Jessica Wattman, and David Farber (Meredith) 28:36 - Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller (Kaytee) 28:45 - The Change by Kirsten Miller 28:50 - Schuler Books in Michigan 31:45 - Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea (Meredith) 35:01 - Guess Again by Charlie Donlea 36:36 - Reading — Why So Serious? 43:40 - Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood 51:03 - Meet Us At The Fountain 51:24 - I wish there was a show about readers, in the spirit of The Great British Bake Off. (Kaytee) 54:46 - An update on last week's wish: I wish my iPhone would make automated actions easier for handling my screenshots. (Meredith) 56:40 - Step-by-Step: Build a “Send Screenshot” Shortcut on iPhone PDF Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. September's IPL comes to us from: Words Matter in Pitman, NJ. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business. All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!
Jake and Katie talk about the top ten reasons you should reconsider a descent into hell to rescue your thesis professor (eg. a lot of math, chthonic dogs, an eventual rivals to lovers romance). Their only cited source is R. F. Kuang's dark academia book, Katabasis.
Today, I review Katabasis, by R.F. Kuang!TikTok/Instagram: @hookofabookEmail: hookofabookpodcast@gmail.comGoodreads/Fable: Ellie Mano
Let's talk about why RF Kuang's latest book, Katabasis, is receiving mixed reviews from fans. I share my theory about how readers' expectations, shaped by her previous works like The Poppy War Trilogy, Babel, and Yellowface, influence their reception of Katabasis.I also provide a detailed critique of the book, discussing its plot, themes, and characters. Additionally, I compare Katabasis to Kuang's earlier works and consider whether the backlash is warranted. Please join me and share in the comments your thoughts on RF Kuang's books and your reading experiences.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RsHrl52IOBk
What would it take for one to venture into hell?Author Rebecca F. Kuang's latest novel, "Katabasis" explores that question and more. In the novel, two graduate students journey into the underworld to rescue their professor's soul.Thursday on Midday Edition, Kuang joins producer Julianna Domingo to talk about the hellish inspirations for "Katabasis" and writing about the absurdities of academia.And, hear ye, hear ye! The Old Globe's latest musical comedy, "Huzzah!" follows two sisters as they try to save their father's renaissance faire from financial ruin. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando goes behind-the-scenes to speak with the director and creators.Guests:R.F. Kuang, author, "Katabasis"Nell Benjamin, lyricist, writer and composer, 'Huzzah!'Lawrence O'Keefe, composer, 'Huzzah!'Annie Tippe, director, 'Huzzah!'
Jeff, Rebecca, and Vanessa talk about Katabasis by R.F. Kuang. Spoiler-free discussion for the first bit, with warning when we wade into deeper plot waters. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky. Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter. Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18! Use code BOOKRIOT to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan at https://incogni.com/bookriot This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Liberty and Patricia discuss Katabasis, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards, Destroy This House, and more great books! Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and never miss a book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18! Use code BOOKRIOT to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan at https://incogni.com/bookriot This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed On the Show: Katabasis by R. F. Kuang The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America by David Baron Destroy This House: A Memoir by Amanda Uhle If You're Seeing This, It's Meant for You by Leigh Stein Full of Myself: Black Womanhood and the Journey to Self-Possession by Austin Channing Brown, forward by Ashley C. Ford The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge, Emily Gravett A Steady Brightness of Being: Truths, Wisdom, and Love from Celebrated Indigenous Voices edited by Sara Sinclair and Stephanie Sinclair For a complete list of books discussed in this episode, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang is a gripping tour de force that takes us into the depths of the underworld alongside two rival academics. Kuang joins us to talk about finding solace in writing, being a genre chameleon, characterization and more with cohost Isabelle McConville. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Isabelle McConville and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Babel by R.F. Kuang Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney Inferno by Dante Alighieri Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Piranesi by Susanna Clarke Featured Books (TBR Top Off): Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
Jeff and Rebecca talk about a big new survey of American reading habits, the Polari Prize closing up shop for the year, Katabasis getting an adaptation, ghost-written vanity memoirs, and more. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky. Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter. Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18! Use code BOOKRIOT to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan at https://incogni.com/bookriot The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Update: Polari Prizes canceled in response to protest Katabasis set for TV adaptation Study shows 40% decline in Americans who read for pleasure 2004-2023 BookTok is boosting sales at romance bookstores Wealthy retirees are commissioning ghost-written memoirs Church Camp by Cara Meredith Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Abundance by Klein and Thompson Endling by Maria Reva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mari Otsu joins Stephen Blackwood for a deeply personal conversation about her journey through the wounds of materialism, ideology, and spiritual forgetting, and her return to the soul through the beauty of the humanities. Reflecting on her years at NYU and the Grand Central Atelier, Mari speaks of a longing that nothing in the modern, politicized worldview could satisfy, and how she found healing in therapy, classical painting, and, most profoundly, the living philosophical community of Ralston College. Engaging with the works of Plotinus, Boethius, and Dante, she discovered a path of purification and ascent that restored her sense of meaning and inspired her to share these treasures with others. This conversation explores the roots of today's meaning crisis and the redemptive power of beauty, thought, and imagination to heal the soul. Subscribe to receive the latest Ralston College updates at www.ralston.ac/sign-up. Authors and Works Mentioned in this Episode: Plotinus' Enneads Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy Augustine's Confessions Plato Dante's Divine Comedy Monique Wittig's The Straight Mind Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:29 - Conversation Begins 02:18 - About Mari 6:00 - Βrief Review of Mari's time at Ralston 8:00 - Mari's Descent into Anguish and Fragmentation 15:20 - The Ideological Component: NYU 23:30 - Leaving Blame Behind 27:20 - Fear as a Symptom of a Spiritual Pathology 29:00 - The Role of Therapy and Right Relationship 34:00 - The Power of Art 44:16 - Moving from Beauty to Contemplation 46:51 - Beginning at Ralston 1:00:00 - Plotinus Moving Beyond Beauty 1:08:00 - Wrapping It All Up 01:11:01 - Exit Music and Fade